By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – A 14-year-old Nigerian mathematics prodigy, Eze Bryan Chinny, has emerged as the winner of the August 2026 Sterling Bank Online Maths Quiz, but his remarkable achievement has been overshadowed by the revelation that he missed an opportunity to represent Nigeria at an international academic competition in China.
Bryan, a Senior Secondary School One (SS1) student of White Cloud College, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, won the N500,000 prize after emerging first at the elimination stage and subsequently triumphing in the live show.
His achievement was highlighted by Alex Onyia @winexviv and Lilian Ogechi @Adaigboglobal, described the young student as “a genius” and “a star,” while lamenting the circumstances that reportedly prevented him from representing Nigeria at the International Economics Olympiad in China.
According to Ogechi, Bryan is not only outstanding in mathematics but is also the overall best student in his class.
“This 14-year-old boy, Eze Bryan Chinny from White Cloud College, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, won the Sterling Bank Online Maths Quiz, August 2026. He won the N500k prize,” Onyia said.
He added that Bryan demonstrated his exceptional ability throughout the competition, taking first position at the elimination stage before going on to win the live show.
“He is the best in Maths in Nigeria for the month of August. He is in SS1, and is also the best student overall in his class. He is a genius. What a star!” he said.
However, Onyia said his celebration of Bryan’s achievement turned into concern after he discovered that the teenager had earlier qualified to represent Nigeria at the International Economics Olympiad in China.
He alleged that the Ministry of Education informed those seeking to facilitate Bryan’s participation that there was no money available to sponsor him.
According to Onyia, efforts were subsequently made to secure support from the Ebonyi State Government, but the government allegedly declined to provide the needed assistance.
“They approached the Ebonyi State Government for support and the government said that they are not interested. So he missed it,” he said.
Onyia said he only became aware of the missed international opportunity after Bryan’s latest victory at the Sterling Bank competition.
“I became curious after he won the Sterling Bank National Online Maths Quiz yesterday,” he said.
The development has raised concerns about the ability of Nigeria’s education system to identify, nurture and adequately support exceptionally gifted young Nigerians who have the potential to compete internationally.
For a 14-year-old student who has already distinguished himself as a national mathematics champion and reportedly qualified for an international Olympiad, the inability to attend because of funding would represent a significant loss—not only for the student but potentially for Nigeria.
Onyia described the situation in stark terms: “This is heartbreaking.”
The case has also renewed calls for greater investment in academic competitions and structured support for gifted Nigerian students, particularly those who earn opportunities to represent the country on the international stage.
